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Order of Australia medals John Smyth Kevin Jaeschke January 27
By Lauren Parker
A Riverton man and a former Snowtown councillor have been named recipients of an Order of Australia Medal. John Smyth and Kevin Jaeschke were among medal recipients announced on Australia Day (Tuesday).
John, of Riverton, was recognised for his service to conservation and the environment through sustainable farming practices in combination with flora and fauna conservation.
John, who celebrated Australia Day at the community breakfast in his home town, was surprised when he heard the news of his OAM.
“It’s good to be recognised for the work I have done for the natural environment,” he said.
John has had numerous environmental commitments over the years, and while he’s now officially retired, he remains the managing director of Bushland Conservation, which he co-founded in the 70s.
“We started that in 1975 and purchased land on Kangaroo Island specifically for conservation,” John said.
While there are now many other groups taking similar action, Bushland Conservation was a pioneering group in its time.
Now, it has more than 2000 hectares under protection on both Kangaroo Island and in the Tothill Ranges between Burra and Kapunda.
“All our land now is under heritage agreement with the State government, so it’s protected for flora and fauna conservation,” John said.
John’s other involvements include being a founding member of the SA Native Vegetation Advisory Committee; and member of the Interim Northern Agricultural and Yorke Peninsula Natural Resources Management Committee; a member of the South Australian Ornithological Association; member of the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia; member of Friends of Private Bushland; former member of the National Parks Consultative Committee, Yorke and Lower North; former member of Friends of Spring Gully Conservation Park; and former member of Birds Australia.
In the past, John has received a Nature Conservation Award, Landcare (2007) and Ibis Award, Commonwealth Development Bank (1992).
• Kevin Jaeschke, now retired in Medindie Gardens, was also recognised for his service to soil conservation and the environment, and to the community.
The former Snowtown District Council councillor maintains his connections with the local community and celebrated Australia Day in Snowtown.
“It’s a great thrill,” Kevin said. “I felt a bit embarrassed at first, but after I went to the Snowtown breakfast I felt differently.”
Kevin said he loved catching up with those from his home community, and still kept in touch by helping his son out on a farm based at Hart.
As a former councillor, he said Wakefield Regional Council was one of the best in South Australia.
Kevin’s community and environmental commitments are numerous.
He chaired the Hummocks District Soil Conservation Board from 1983 to 1995 and remained a board member until it was wound up in 2005 and was a founder of the Hart Field Days in 1982, chaired the field site group from 2000 to 2003 and has been a board member for 28 years.
Kevin was also the inaugural chair and a founding member of the Blyth-Brinkworth Revegetation Committee since 1994 and has been a board member of Greening Australia for 21 years and has been named a life member of the organisation.
He is a member of the Spiny Daisy Recovery Team dedicated to preserving the critically endangered species.
He is a board member of the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species and on the Rotary International Australian Campaign for Rabbit Eradication.
Kevin has been equally committed to his community.
He was a councillor with Snowtown council from 1980 to 1991 and chair of the works committee and a board member of the Blyth District Hospital from 1980 to 2002 (later known as Blyth Development Board) and secretary of St John’s Lutheran Church, Condowie.
He has been team manager for the Brinkworth-Yacka-Spalding Football Club; president of the Brinkworth Liberal Party branch, and state delegate for the Liberal Party Rural Council.
He is a member of the Rotary Club of Clare, past president of the Brinkworth Farmers’ Federation Branch and has been secretary of the Brinkworth School Council.
PHOTO BELOW: Riverton’s environmentalist, John Smyth.
